With a career spanning over a decade,@@http://artists.letssingit.com/tech-n9ne-4cw92/biography@@ and a quickly approaching 40th birthday, rapper Aaron Yates — more commonly known by his stage name, Tech N9ne — doesn’t feel his age. “I feel like I’m 19, but I’ll be 40,” the rapper said of his November birthday, then continued with, “I still party.”
And on Oct. 28 at the McDonald Theatre,@@http://secure.mcdonaldtheatre.com/customer/home.php?cat=357@@
Tech N9ne will bring his party to Eugene with The Lost Cities Tour, in support of his most recent album “All 6’s and 7’s.”@@http://www.amazon.com/All-6s-7s-Tech-N9ne/dp/B004R8XG9S@@
Tech N9ne is known for the speed of his rapping and rhymes. He released his first album, “The Calm Before the Storm,” in 1999@@http://www.amazon.com/Calm-Before-Storm-Part/dp/B000051XS3@@ and has since released many more albums, founded his own record label — Strange Music — and collaborated with a number of well-known and up-and-coming acts.@@http://www.last.fm/label/Strange+Music@@
“What I want to accomplish with my music is, I want people to know that I really am something else … something other than what’s out there that you’re used to listening to,” he said. “I am ambidextrous; I am everything in one. (I have) the ability to be able to flip these lyrics like no other and be meaningful too, at times.”
Released this June, “All 6’s and 7’s” debuted at number four on the Billboard 200@@http://www.billboard.com/features/state-of-independence-15-artists-impacting-1005261422.story?page=3#/features/state-of-independence-15-artists-impacting-1005261422.story?page=3@@ and is Tech N9ne’s highest-charting album to date. Featuring singles such as “He’s A Mental Giant” and “Worldwide Choppers,” the album also features collaborations with names such as Lil Wayne, B.o.B and Snoop Dogg.@@http://www.amazon.com/All-6s-7s-Tech-N9ne/dp/B004R8XG9S@@
“It was just so wonderful to see so many more people involved, and all my fans coming together to make that happen, you know what I mean? Because the fans, they make what number I come in at, because they’re the ones purchasing this album … It just felt so wonderful that so many more people were tuning in,” Tech N9ne said on charting in the top five on Billboard.
As for the live show, the energy and the fans are what keeps Tech N9ne coming back. “The energy that the fans give me from all of the yelling and everything, just the energy from the crowd is the best thing,” Tech N9ne said about touring, also adding that Eugene has “a lot of fans that really love my music, and so that’s what keeps me coming back.”
Rather than performing songs just as they were recorded, Tech N9ne admits that he likes to bring new things to each performance, such as adding a Mac Dre tribute into his song “Bout Ta’ Bubble” as well as E-40 and Busta Rhymes tributes into other songs.@@checked names@@
He also emphasizes the importance of collaboration and showcasing other artists. Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun and Jay Rock, all signed to Strange Music, join him on tour and guest perform on a few Tech N9ne songs.@@http://wearerap.com/news-tech-n9ne-reveals-tracklist-for-welcome-to-strangeland/@@
After this tour, which began on Sept. 29 in Kansas and will end Dec. 1 in Missouri, Tech N9ne will release his 13th studio album. “Welcome to Strangeland” will be released Nov. 8@@http://fridaetv.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/techn9ne-welcome-to-strangeland-november-8th/@@ and is his fourth album dedicated to collaborations, featuring many of the artists from his label. The first song from that album, “The Noose,” was released earlier this month and features the hip-hop group ¡MAYDAY!.@@http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/id.17127/title.tech-n9ne-f-mayday-the-noose@@
Tech N9ne will perform at the McDonald Theatre on Oct. 28 supported by Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun, Jay Rock and Flawless. Tickets are available at all TicketsWest outlets or at the EMU box office. The show starts at 8 p.m.@@http://www.musiceugene.com/@@